Chapter 3 Managing the Information Systems Project 79
Case Problems
1. Pine Valley Furniture
In an effort to better serve the various depart-
ments at Pine Valley Furniture, the PVF informa-
tion systems department assigns one of its
systems analysts to serve as a liaison to a partic-
ular business unit. Chris Martin is currently the
liaison to the purchasing department.
After graduating from Valley State University,
Chris began working at Pine Valley Furniture. He
began his career at Pine Valley Furniture as a
programmer/analyst I. This job assignment
required him to code and maintain financial
application systems in COBOL. In the six years he
has been at PVF, he has been promoted several
times; his most recent promotion was to a junior
systems analyst position. During his tenure at
PVF, Chris has worked on several important proj-
ects, including serving as a team member on a
project that developed a five-year plan that would
renovate the manufacturing information systems.
Chris enjoys his work at Pine Valley Furniture
and wishes to continue moving up the informa-
tion systems ladder. Over the past three years,
Chris has often thought about becoming certified
by the Project Management Institute. He has
taken several courses toward his MBA, has at-
tended three technology-related seminars, and
has helped the local Feed the Hungry chapter de-
velop, implement, and maintain its computerized
information system.
a. While eating lunch one day, Juanita asked
Chris about the benefits of becoming a proj-
ect management professional. Briefly make a
case for becoming a project management
professional.
b. What are the project management profes-
sional eligibility criteria for Chris? What docu-
mentation must he provide?
c. Assume Chris has obtained his certification.
What are PDUs, and how many must Chris
acquire over a three-year period?
d. Several activity categories are listed as quali-
fying for PDUs on the Project Management
Institute’s Web site. Identify these categories.
In which categories would you place Chris’s
experience?
2. Hoosier Burger
Bob and Thelma Mellankamp have come to
realize that the current problems with their
inventory control, customer ordering, and man-
agement reporting systems are seriously affecting
Hoosier Burger’s day-to-day operations. At the
close of business one evening, Bob and Thelma
decide to hire the Build a Better System (BBS)
consulting firm. Harold Parker and Lucy Chen,
two of BBS’s owners, are frequent Hoosier Burger
customers. Bob and Thelma are aware of the ex-
cellent consulting service BBS is providing to the
Bloomington area.
Build a Better System is a medium-size consult-
ing firm based in Bloomington, Indiana. Six
months ago, BBS hired you as a junior systems
analyst for the firm. Harold and Lucy were
impressed with your résumé, course work, and
systems analysis and design internship. During
your six months with BBS, you have had the
opportunity to work alongside several senior
systems analysts and observe the project man-
agement process.
On a Friday afternoon, you learn that you have
been assigned to the Hoosier Burger project and
that the lead analyst on the project is Juan
Rodriquez. A short while later, Juan stops by your
desk and mentions that you will be participating in
the project management process. Mr. Rodriquez
has scheduled a meeting with you for 10:00
A.M.
on Monday to review the project management
process with you. You know from your brief dis-
cussion with Mr. Rodriquez that you will be asked
to prepare various planning documents, particu-
larly a Gantt chart and a Network diagram.
a. In an effort to learn more about project
management, you decide to research this topic
over the weekend. Locate articles that discuss
project management. Summarize your findings.
b. At your meeting on Monday, Mr. Rodriquez
asks you to prepare a Gantt chart for the
Hoosier Burger project. Using the following
information, prepare a Gantt chart.
c. Using the information provided in part b,
prepare a Network diagram.
d. After reviewing the Gantt chart and a Network
diagram, Mr. Rodriquez feels that alternative
generation should take only one-half week and
that implementation may take three weeks.
Modify your charts to reflect these changes.
Activity
No.
Activity
Time
(weeks)
Immediate
Predecessors
1 Requirements collection 1 —
2 Requirements structuring 2 1
3 Alternative generation 1 2
4 Logical design 2 3
5 Physical design 3 4
6 Implementation 2 5